Willie - you missed the "B" in -PBG. Blown records are non-existant in AMA, and realy soft SCTA-BNI. Eventually I might change to "A", but it seems easier to start in "M". Unlike you, I don't have any experience in building from scratch motorcycles (only cars) so doing this in baby-steps seems like the thing to do.
Slim - thanks for the clarifications. 55.5" is "by the book". The stock Blast does not have provisions to tighten the chain, cause there ain't one! I will interpret the rule to be "the maximum that the wheelbase can be adjusted to" and I should be OK as long as that number is under 55.5" + 5.5".
Ken